Terminal connecter



Feb. 7, 1933. J. H. VAN DERHOOF 8 TERMINAL CONNECTER Filed April 4. 1931 Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES JOHN H. VAN DEBHOOF, OI WARWICK, NEW YORK TmINAL CONNECTER Application filed April 4,

This invention relates to a terminal connecter for storage batteries and the like, one of the objects of the invention being to provide a device of this character which can be readily a plied to or removed from a terminal whet er or not the-parts have become corroded, it being unnecessary to hammer or pry upon the parts, simple and eflicient means being rovided whereby, through the use of an or inary wrench, the necessary binding or loosening action can be effected quickly and positively.

A still further object is to provide a connecter which, when in clamping or binding position, will be secured against accidental displacement.

With the foregoing and .other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and 'in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing, the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the connecter.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 2.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates the body of the connecter which is formed with an integral sleeve 2 for the reception of one end of a conductor adapted to be joined thereto in any suitable manner as by means of solder. The body- 1 is formed with spaced ears 3 and 4 one of which has a circular opening 5 while the other has a larger circular opening 6, the two openings being coaxial.

Formed integral with the body 1 is a band 7 which cooperates with body 1 to form a split sleeve. One end of this band has an integral ear 8 which is interposed between and adapted to slide relative to the ears 3 and 4. In this ear 8 is formed an opening 1981. Serial No. 527,747.

9 of peculiar configuration, the wall of the opening being recessed at one'point to pro- Vlde a seat 10 for the purpose hereinafter-explained.

Mounted for rotation in the openings 5, 9 and 6 is a pin 11 one end portion of which. can be formed with a head 12 for engagement by a wrench or the like whereby the pin can be rotated readily. The other end of the pin can be upset as shown at 13 or otherwise formed so as to hold the pin properly in position. A stud 14 can extend from the head 12 for sliding engagement with the outer surface of ear tbetween limiting stops or shoulders 15 shown in Figure 1.

That portion of the pin located within the ear 8 is formed with an integral cam 16 which will engage the seat 10 when the band 7 is drawn tightly to clamp upon'an inserted terminal or the like. When it is desired to release the connecter from a terminal the pin is rotated so as to move the cam in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 3. This will force the cam out of engagement with its seat 10 and allow it to move along or close to the curved wall of opening 9 until the cam comes into contact with a fiattened portion 17 of said wall at a point opposite to the seat 10. When the cam comes against this portion 17 it will act to thrust the ear 8 outwardlyfrom between the ears 3 and 4, thereby positively shifting the band 7 so as to release the connecter from the engaged terminal.

When it is desired to apply the connecter to a terminal, the foregoing action is reversed and as the cam moves away from engagement with the portion 17 of the wall of opening 9 it will ride along the curved portion of said wall in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Figure 3, thereby drawing ear 8 back to position between ears 3 and 4 and causing the band 7 to clamp upon the inserted part. Ultimately the cam will snap into the recess in the wall of opening 9 so as to engage the seat provided thereby. This will act as a lock to prevent the connecter from releasing accidentally and will insure a constant tight connection between the parts.

It will be noted that the entire structure,

the pin inserted, and the end 13 upset or ot erbetween the spaced ears, a cam in the apei'-,

wise treated to prevent withdrawal, the en tire device will be in complete form ready for use, and none of the parts can become separated or lost accidents 1y.

What is claimed is:

1. A connecter including a split sleeve a portion of which constitutes the body of the connecter, spaced ears extending from said body, an apertured ear extending from the opposed portion of the sleeve and movable tured ear, and means rotatable within the other ears for rotating the cam and shifting the ears positively relative to each other to spread or to contract the sleeve.

2. A connecter including a split sleeve one portion of which constitutes the bodyof the connecter, ears extending fromsaid portion,

an ear extending from the opposed portion 1,eee,ees

accidental rotation when the connecter is contracted.

6. A connecter including 'a split sleeve, spaced apertured ears extending from one side thereof, an apertured ear extending from the other side of the sleeve for sliding movement between the spaced ears, a pin mounted for rotationin the ears, and a cam .inte ml with the pin for rotation in the intermedlate ear, the wall of the opening in said ear having a cam-reeeiving seat, an arcuate' portion leading to the seat, and a flattened cam-engagmg portion opposite theseat, said cam an the wall of the intermediate ear cooperating to contract and to spread the sleeve when the pin is rotated, the seat and cam cooperating to hold the pin against accidental rotation when the sleeve is contracted.

In testimony that I claim the. foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed 111 Si ature. JOHN H. VAN DEfi OOF of the sleeve and lapping and shiftable relav tive to the first named ears, said ear having an opening, a pin mounted for rotation in the ears, said pin having a cam portion housed within said opening and cooperating the wall 'ofthe opening to expand or contract the sleeve when the pin is rotated.

3. A connecter including a split sleeve one portion of which constitutes the body of the connecter, ears extending from said portion, an ear extending from the opposed portion of the sleeve and lapping and shiftable relative to the first named ears, a pin mounted for rotation in the ears, said pin having a cam portion cooperating with one of the ears to expand or-contract the sleeve when the pin is rotated, and a seat in one of the ears for frictional engagement by the cam to hold the pin against accldental rotation while the connec- 'ter is contracted.

4. A connecter including a split sleeve one portion of which constitutes the body thereof, ears extending from said portion, an ear extending from the opposite portion of the sleeve and slidable between and relative to the first named ears, said ear having an opening, a pin mounted for rotation in all of the ears, a cam rotatable therewith and surrounded by and. cooperating with the wall of said opening to shift it relative to the other ears to spread or to contract the connecter.

- 5. A connecter including a split sleeve one portion of which constitutes the body there-,

I of, ears extending from said portion, an ear extending from the opposite portion of the sleeve and slidable between and relative to the first named ears, a-pin mounted for rotation in all of the ears, a cam rotatable therewith and cooperating with one of the ears to shift it relative to the other ears to spread or to contract the connecter, and a seat for engagement by the cam to hold the pin against 

